Amanda Saunders

Colourful annual mining conference Diggers & Dealers has abandoned an attempt to broaden the event to include mining services companies for the first time.

The Kalgoorlie conference has a tradition of barring companies outside hard rock mining. The issue with looking to break with tradition this year is that the mining services sector is struggling even more than cash-starved junior explorers.

Coveted speaking invitations were sent to 15 mining services groups, but all bar one was refused.

Diggers & Dealers director John Langford was unsure why the reception was so cool but on Thursday opted to shelve the strategy.

''We canvassed brokers and investors and they were in full support, it was a natural extension,'' he said. ''The only thing we didn't expect was for mining services to say no, and turn down the opportunity to present to 2000 people. The industry didn't want to take advantage of the opportunity.''

MACA was the only firm to accept and they will still present. Some of the companies cited busy schedules, and Mr Langford said the August conference could have been too close to reporting season for comfort.

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Diggers & Dealers has filled its 45 company speaking slots and secured former Bank of England governor Lord King as keynote presenter. Mr Langford said he fielded 95 applications to speak, down on the 130 received last year. The difference was a big reduction in applications from junior explorers, who were too cash poor to pay for a slot, he said.

It costs about $16,000 to speak at Diggers, which includes a booth and four delegate spots. ''Most of the companies that did apply this year had a significant amount of substance, not so much junior explorers chasing a dream,'' he said.

Mr Langford said the mix of speakers was in line with previous years and just ''as solid''.

It usually showcases smaller groups, but majors including Fortescue Metals Group, AngloGold Ashanti and Gold Fields are locked in to present.

The 125 company booths in the marquee have been taken and there is a waiting list of about 400 companies. Gold majors Newmont and Newcrest have nabbed a booth.

Mr Langford said he had tried to enlist mining services firms to freshen up the program.

''Every four or five years we try to do something to provide interesting change to keep the quality of the program up and to be relevant.

''And service companies are a very valid part of the industry.''

He cited a past move to invite Woodside to speak despite standard practice of excluding oil and gas companies from the forum. One junior explorer executive, who declined to be named, said Diggers was a key event but it was becoming harder to justify spending to shareholders in a time of ''strict belt tightening''.